After going 0-9 in their first batting rotation, the Stuarts Draft Cougars came alive enough in the 4th-6th innings to squeak past Riverheads tonight in a game that ended with a little bit of controversy. But then again, aren't there always fireworks in any sport between these two?
RHS pitcher Matthew Charles moved from his customary first base slot to the mound tonight, and completely handcuffed the Cougars for the first three innings. Riverheads meanwhile started the scoring in the bottom of the first when Landon Lightner rocketed a triple over the left-fielder's head and came home to score when a routine Ryan Farris fly-out was dropped. The score then stayed 1-0 until the fourth when the Cougars took a lead they would not relinquish.
Unfortunately for Big Red fans, they helped the Cougars along by committing the same error twice, and in each case it led to a Cougar run. In the top of the fourth, Coby Rothgeb reached first for the Draft and when RHS tried to pick him off, the throw squirted between the first baseman's legs. That eventually led to one of the two runs the Cougars scored to take the lead.
Then in the top of the fifth, Rothgeb again found himself safe on first and again the Gladiators tried too hard to keep him there. In this case, Charles air-mailed the throw over to first and it led directly to a run, as there was also a man on third at the time. The Cougars then padded the lead in the top of the sixth with a solo homer by number 21. Can't give you his name because he is not on the official roster as listed on the Shenandoah website and I did not ask for a program at the game.
Trailing 4-1 in the home half of the seventh, the Gladiators made it interesting, and it was the younger players in the lower third of the batting order that got things started, including a pinch hitter or two. The Big Red managed to load the bases but with two outs, meaning they were running out of chances.
A hit batsman brought in one run to trim the lead to 4-2, and that brought Lightner up to bat. Based on the season as a whole and his earlier triple, he looked like the best option the home team had to complete the miracle rally. But soon he was down to his last strike and along came the play that left more than a few Gladiator fans grumbling about the man in blue.
With those two strikes on him (don't remember the exact count) it certainly appeared as if he too had been hit by a pitch by Blake Roach, who had just relieved Cougar starter Dalton Jones, who pitched a masterful game by the way.
But instead of the Gladiators getting the ruling they thought they deserved, which would of course have made the score 4-3 and moved the tying run to third, the incident was ruled a foul ball. Lightner was shaken up, no matter who hit him, and needed a few minutes before he could continue, but when he did, he hit a grounder to the shortstop, who stepped on second to end the game.
All four pitchers who saw action in the game gave respectable accounts of themselves. In addition to the three already-mentioned hurlers, Riverheads reliever Colton Kwiecinski may have given up the 6th inning homer, but other than that, he kept the Cougars at bay during his two-inning stint on the mound. It would probably be accurate to call the game a pitchers' duel (that is if a duel can involve four guys!) because I doubt if the two teams combined for more than eight hits.
The Gladiators (now 3-2 on the season) will be right back in action Wednesday for a non-district game at Parry McCluer. I will be sitting that one out but I am sure we can at least locate a score before the evening is over. Then on Friday, weather-permitting the Big Red will start their second swing through district action when Wilson pays a visit. Riverheads won that one 10-8 in their season-opener at Fishersville, and guess what...there was a controversial ending that night too! What can I say...that is what we do around here but you have to admit.... it keeps life interesting!!!
RHS pitcher Matthew Charles moved from his customary first base slot to the mound tonight, and completely handcuffed the Cougars for the first three innings. Riverheads meanwhile started the scoring in the bottom of the first when Landon Lightner rocketed a triple over the left-fielder's head and came home to score when a routine Ryan Farris fly-out was dropped. The score then stayed 1-0 until the fourth when the Cougars took a lead they would not relinquish.
Unfortunately for Big Red fans, they helped the Cougars along by committing the same error twice, and in each case it led to a Cougar run. In the top of the fourth, Coby Rothgeb reached first for the Draft and when RHS tried to pick him off, the throw squirted between the first baseman's legs. That eventually led to one of the two runs the Cougars scored to take the lead.
Then in the top of the fifth, Rothgeb again found himself safe on first and again the Gladiators tried too hard to keep him there. In this case, Charles air-mailed the throw over to first and it led directly to a run, as there was also a man on third at the time. The Cougars then padded the lead in the top of the sixth with a solo homer by number 21. Can't give you his name because he is not on the official roster as listed on the Shenandoah website and I did not ask for a program at the game.
Trailing 4-1 in the home half of the seventh, the Gladiators made it interesting, and it was the younger players in the lower third of the batting order that got things started, including a pinch hitter or two. The Big Red managed to load the bases but with two outs, meaning they were running out of chances.
A hit batsman brought in one run to trim the lead to 4-2, and that brought Lightner up to bat. Based on the season as a whole and his earlier triple, he looked like the best option the home team had to complete the miracle rally. But soon he was down to his last strike and along came the play that left more than a few Gladiator fans grumbling about the man in blue.
With those two strikes on him (don't remember the exact count) it certainly appeared as if he too had been hit by a pitch by Blake Roach, who had just relieved Cougar starter Dalton Jones, who pitched a masterful game by the way.
But instead of the Gladiators getting the ruling they thought they deserved, which would of course have made the score 4-3 and moved the tying run to third, the incident was ruled a foul ball. Lightner was shaken up, no matter who hit him, and needed a few minutes before he could continue, but when he did, he hit a grounder to the shortstop, who stepped on second to end the game.
All four pitchers who saw action in the game gave respectable accounts of themselves. In addition to the three already-mentioned hurlers, Riverheads reliever Colton Kwiecinski may have given up the 6th inning homer, but other than that, he kept the Cougars at bay during his two-inning stint on the mound. It would probably be accurate to call the game a pitchers' duel (that is if a duel can involve four guys!) because I doubt if the two teams combined for more than eight hits.
The Gladiators (now 3-2 on the season) will be right back in action Wednesday for a non-district game at Parry McCluer. I will be sitting that one out but I am sure we can at least locate a score before the evening is over. Then on Friday, weather-permitting the Big Red will start their second swing through district action when Wilson pays a visit. Riverheads won that one 10-8 in their season-opener at Fishersville, and guess what...there was a controversial ending that night too! What can I say...that is what we do around here but you have to admit.... it keeps life interesting!!!
